Intel Announces Groundbreaking 'Women and the Web' Report with UN
Women and State Department

Report calls for doubling the number of women and girls in developing
countries who are online to 1.2 billion in 3 years

January 10, 2013 10:00 AM Eastern Time

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intel Corporation released a groundbreaking report on “Women and the
Web,” unveiling concrete data on the enormous Internet gender gap in the
developing world and the social and economic benefits of securing
Internet access for women. To better understand the gender gap, Intel
commissioned this study and consulted with the U.S. State Department’s
Office of Global Women’s Issues, UN Women and World Pulse, a global
network for women. The report issues a call to action to double the
number of women and girls online in developing countries from 600
million today to 1.2 billion in 3 years.

“With the powerful capabilities the Internet enables -- to connect, to
learn, to engage, to increase productivity, and to find opportunities --
women’s lack of access is giving rise to a second digital divide, one
where women and girls risk being left further and further behind.”

On average, across the developing world nearly 25 percent fewer women
than men have access to the Internet, and the gender gap soars to nearly
45 percent in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, according to the
report. Further, the study found that one in five women in India and
Egypt believes the Internet is not appropriate for them.

“This study demonstrates the enormity of the global Internet gender gap
and more importantly, identifies specific ways the public, private and
civil society sectors can work together to dramatically increase
Internet access for women and girls,” said Shelly Esque, vice president
of Intel's Corporate Affairs Group and president of the Intel
Foundation. “Intel has worked for decades to improve education around
the world. If we can empower women and girls with the tools, resources
and opportunities they need to succeed, we will transform their lives
and the lives of everyone they touch.”

Seeing another 600 million women online would mean that 40 percent of
women and girls in developing countries -- nearly double the share today
-- would have access to the transformative power of the Internet. This
goal, if realized, could potentially contribute an estimated US $13
billion to $18 billion to annual GDP across 144 developing countries.

"With the powerful capabilities the Internet enables -- to connect, to
learn, to engage, to increase productivity, and to find opportunities --
women’s lack of access is giving rise to a second digital divide, one
where women and girls risk being left further and further behind." said
Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues at the
U.S. Department of State."My hope is that this report will catalyze
action to close the Internet gender gap. This will require knowledge,
leadership, determination and collaboration among governments, public
institutions, corporations, and civil society to tackle the wide range
of gender-specific barriers to Internet access."

“There is wide acknowledgement around the globe that women’s empowerment
is a basic issue of social and economic justice and also essential to
wider social progress and sustainable development,” said Michelle
Bachelet, under-secretary-general and executive director, UN Women.
“This report demonstrates that expanding access to the Internet and
technology for women and girls is critical to their improved education,
increased opportunity and ability to foster entrepreneurship in
countries around the world.”

The report’s findings are based on interviews and surveys of 2,200 women
and girls living in urban and peri-urban areas of four focus countries:
Egypt, India, Mexico and Uganda, as well as analyses of global
databases. The findings were unveiled during a panel discussion today in
Washington, D.C. as part of the 2-day international working forum on
women, ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) and development
hosted by the State Department and UN Women.

Support for the study is part of Intel’s commitment to bridge this
gender gap and empower people through innovation and education.

Through access to technology, scholarships and community learning
programs, Intel provides girls and women with opportunities for quality
education and personal growth. Intel's programs equip women with access
to information needed to excel.

Key highlights from the report:

Gender barriers are real. One in five women in India and Egypt
believes the Internet is not “appropriate” for them. On average across
the developing world, nearly 25 percent fewer women than men have
access to the Internet, and the gender gap soars to nearly 45 percent
in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.

Bridging the Internet gender gap:

Boosts women’s income and income potential. Across the surveyed
countries, nearly half of respondents used the Web to search for and
apply for a job, and 30 percent had used the Internet to earn
additional income.

Increases women’s sense of empowerment. More than 70 percent of
Internet users considered the Internet “liberating” and 85 percent
said it “provides more freedom.”

Enabling Internet access for more women and girls in developing
countries promises immediate, and immense, benefits. Seeing another
600 million women online would mean that 40 percent of women and girls
in developing countries, nearly double the share today, would have
access to the transformative power of the Internet. And, it could
potentially contribute an estimated US$13 billion to $18 billion to
annual GDP across 144 developing countries.

Today, millions of girls around the world have little or no access to
education. Intel believes that education should be a fundamental right
for everyone and recognizes the major role technology plays in improving
both the quality of and access to education. Through access to
technology, scholarships and community learning programs, Intel provides
girls and women with opportunities for quality education and personal
growth.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The
company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the
foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information
about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com
and blogs.intel.com.

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